Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterised by different degrees of severity and different stages. Understanding these differences can help to better adapt the ventilatory settings to protect the lung from ventilator-induced lung injury by reducing hyperinflation or keeping the lung open when it is possible. The same therapies may be useful and beneficial in certain forms of ARDS, and risky or harmful at other stages: this includes high positive end-expiratory pressure, allowance of spontaneous breathing activity or use of noninvasive ventilation. The severity of the disease is the primary indicator to individualise treatment. Monitoring tools such as oesophageal pressure or lung volume measurements may also help to set the ventilator. At an earlier stage, an adequate lung protective strategy may also help to prevent the development of ARDS.
Abstract
The survival of patients on mechanical ventilation for ARDS can be improved by optimising ventilatory management http://ow.ly/Hapm3
Footnotes
Previous articles in the Series. No. 1: Guérin C. Prone ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Eur Respir Rev 2014; 23: 249–257. No. 2: Finney SJ. Extracorporeal support for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Eur Respir Rev 2014; 23: 379–389. No. 3: Zompatori M, Ciccarese F, Fasano L. Overview of current lung imaging in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Eur Respir Rev 2014; 23: 519–530.
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at err.ersjournals.com
Provenance: Submitted article, peer reviewed.
- Received December 15, 2014.
- Accepted January 5, 2015.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015.
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